Orthodox Churches

The Bishops' Conference took place in the Hall of Church Councils at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on 2 February 2010. Taking part in it were hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church who have arrived in Moscow to celebrate the anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. His Holiness presented a report that was following by a discussion of issues took up by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Resolutions on various aspects of church life were adopted.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has said he will continue to pursue reforms within the Russian Orthodox Church. "The administrative reforms launched are not a goal in itself. They must become the backbone of further reforms in the [Russian Orthodox] Church," the Russian Patriarch told Archbishops at a conference in Moscow Christ the Savior Cathedral on Tuesday.

When it comes to fighting today's challenges, the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church stand side-by-side on a number of issues, said Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. "We [together with the Roman Catholic Church] have similar positions on many problems facing Christians in the modern world. They include aggressive secularization, globalization, and the erosion of the traditional moral principles. It should be noted that on these issues Pope Benedict XVI has taken a stance close to the Orthodox one," the Patriarch said at the Bishops' Meeting in Moscow on Tuesday.

The first anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was marked at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow on Monday morning. The Patriarch served a Divine Liturgy in the cathedral, where the enthronement took place precisely a year ago.